Baselines

A livelihood profile (food economy) is a concise description of how people live, structured according to the issues which help us understand acute and chronic food and livelihood insecurity. Each livelihood baseline profile refers to a specific food economy group or zone. The terms "Food Economy Group" or "zone" are used interchangeably with "Livelihood Group" or "zone" - communities who share similar livelihood options: similar types and levels of assets; similar options for production and income generation; they are vulnerable to similar risks; and their socio-cultural environment and history may be similar. Within each livelihood group, household livelihood patterns vary according to socio-economic status.

FSNAU has classified the entire population of Somalia according to livelihood zones(.pdf 332KB)  The livelihood zone baseline, based on participatory research methodologies, provides information on livelihood sources, expenditures, vulnerabilities and coping strategies of specific livelihood groups. The description in the profile usually refers to a normal year in the recent past - a year which is neither very good nor very bad - and which is fairly common. The information describes, therefore, the conditions which communities are most used to or a usual year.Livelihood profiles are sometimes updated if there has been considerable change in the environment, or in livelihood status of the population. The normal year is a key reference point for analysis to monitor change and trends. The normal year is described by key indicators including political and environmental issues, while quantitatively described with yields, prices, terms of trade, rainfall data, livestock trade and crop yields.Normal year information for each livelihood zone provides contextual information at micro and meso level. The baseline information documents the socio economic wealth breakdown to understand the income and wealth distribution, the related livelihood options, risks and vulnerabilities as well as the relationships between the various wealth groups.Household economy information on food sources, income sources and expenditure enable determining whether the problems in a normal year are related to access or availability, immediate or long term causes, local or structural issues. It documents the diversity of food and income sources and shows the relative dependency of each. This information allows analysis of livelihood risk, vulnerability, coping strategies and sustainability. Vulnerability is assumed to be a function of exposure to risk and households ability to cope.The baseline information provides the key tool for monitoring changes at the meso level, design programs for relief and development accommodating the local level complexities and diversity.

Livelihood Baselines for Somalia

1. Bay, Bakol and Bardera Agro-pastoral (.pdf 1042KB)
2. Central Agro-pastoral (.pdf 972KB)
3. Dawa Pastoral (.pdf 958KB)
4. Golis-Guban Pastoral (.pdf 873KB)
5. Hawd and Sool Pastoral (.pdf 890KB)
6. Hiran Riverine (.pdf 975KB)
7. Juba Pump Irrigated Commercial Farming (.pdf 965KB)
10. Lower and Middle Juba Agro-pastoral (.pdf 969KB)
11. Southern Inland Pastoral (.pdf 970KB)
12. Addun Pastoral (.pdf 896KB)   

Updated Baseline Livelihood Reports for Somalia

Baidoa Urban Baseline Analysis Report
Bay Bakool Rural Baseline Analysis Report

Updated Baseline Livelihood Profiles for Somalia

Baidoa Urban Baseline Profile
Southern Inland Pastoral Profile
Bakool Agro-pastoral Profile
Bay Bakool Agro-pastoral Low Potential Profile
Bay Agro-pastoral High Potential Profile